Which network service is primarily used to map domain names to IP addresses?

The service that is primarily used to map domain names to IP addresses is DNS, or Domain Name System. DNS functions as the phonebook of the internet, allowing users to access websites using human-readable domain names, such as www.example.com, instead of having to remember the numerical IP address associated with that domain.

When a user enters a domain name into a web browser, the DNS translates that name into the corresponding IP address, enabling the browser to locate the correct server and retrieve the requested web page. This process is fundamental to the functionality of the internet, as it provides a user-friendly way to navigate without needing technical knowledge of IP addressing.

While other network services mentioned serve different purposes, such as HTTP being used for transferring web pages, FTP for file transfers, and DHCP for assigning IP addresses to devices on a network, none of them primarily handle the mapping of domain names to IP addresses, which is the specific function of DNS. This makes DNS essential for internet navigation and connectivity.